Jose Fermin hit his first big league homer, a two-run shot, to lift the St. Louis Cardinals past the visiting Atlanta Braves 5-4 Sunday.
The game was marred by two rain delays totaling more than four hours.
Umpire Brennan Miller ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol in the ninth inning for disputing ball-and-strike calls
Willson Contreras drove in two runs and Masyn Winn scored twice as the Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep by the Braves.
St. Louis starter Sonny Gray allowed one run on three hits in three innings before rain halted the game. He struck out five and walked none.
Steven Matz replaced Gray after the first delay and allowed two runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. Winning pitcher Gordon Graceffo (3-0), Riley O’Brien and Ryan Helsley (19th save) worked after the second delay.
Matt Olson drove in three runs and Michael Harris II scored twice for the Braves.
Braves starter Davis Daniel, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett for this game, allowed one run on two hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out five.
Jesse Chavez (0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and a walk in two innings.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Winn walked, stole second base and scored on Victor Scott II’s infield single.
Gray retired the first eight batters he faced. Then Nick Allen, Jurickson Profar and Olson hit two-out singles in the third inning to tie the game 1-1.
Atlanta pulled ahead 3-1 in the fifth inning. Harris hit a single and went to third on Profar’s single. Profar advanced to second on a throwing error.
Olson stroked a two-run single before the rain returned. After a delay exceeding 2 hours, 40 minutes, the Cardinals tied the game 3-3 in the fifth inning.
Scott walked and went to third on Alec Burleson’s single, then Contreras popped a two-run double down the right field line.
St. Louis moved ahead 5-3 in the sixth inning on a single by Winn and Fermin’s homer.
Atlanta cut its deficit to 5-4 in the seventh inning. Harris hit a leadoff double, went to third on a groundout and came home on Profar’s grounder, which was mishandled by Graceffo.
Jose Fermin’s first MLB home run leads Cardinals past Braves
